Each week, we are led by classmates in a discussion about current events. This week, we discussed gentrification in college towns and what is being done right here at UNC Chapel Hill to protect the historically black community called Northside. Many groups are working to ensure that rent prices will not rise for community members who have been a part of the town for decades and could be lower class. The price raise is due to college students moving in and landlords taking advantage of the possibility of bringing in more profits.
We also participated in an activity that required us to act as if we were in a made-up college town, Townsville, and serve as either a project developer, a community member, or a member of the town council. This challenges our classmates to look at the economic benefits, but also the harsh reality of the removal of historical members of the community.
We also hosted members of the Kenan Charitable Trust Foundation. Doug Zinn and Dorian Burton answered questions that we had about the foundation and how it served the community. The Kenan Trust Foundation is unique in the fact that it collaborates with organizations that it has funded to evaluate success and determine best practices for a community.The foundation acknowledges that many of their donors may not experience the same lifestyle of the communities that are being served and that learning from the community is vital to trust and healthy communication between both parties. They left us with the advice of visiting the sites of organizations that have applied and see what their day to day practices look like, so that the class knows the authentic atmosphere of these organizations.